Director Christopher Wray kept us safe. He is and was a great Director of the FBI.

December 11, 2024

Bu Luke Barr

..."It should go without saying, (click here) but I'll say it anyway -- this is not easy for me. I love this place, I love our mission, and I love our people -- but my focus is, and always has been, on us and doing what's right for the FBI," he said.

"When you look at where the threats are headed, it's clear that the importance of our work --  keeping Americans safe and upholding the Constitution -- will not change. And what absolutely cannot, must not change is our commitment to doing the right thing, the right way, every time. Our adherence to our core values, our dedication to independence and objectivity, and our defense of the rule of law -- those fundamental aspects of who we are must never change," he said....

Murder is never acceptable, but, this is more than murder.

I have one question. Only one. How did Brian Thompson, a powerful CEO, come face to face his murderer? 

That seems surreal to me. I doubt anyone could simply walk up to other CEOs like Jamie Dimon, just as an example. It seems as though Brian had no idea of the danger his company was raising in conducting business in the way it did. I find this entire episode with corporate America odd.

In retrospect, Michael Moore made the film "Roger and Me." For as much as Michael Moore tried he never met Roger Smith (click here) while still directing a successful documentary.

I find the opportunity for these two people to meet concerning. I simply don't believe murder elevates "the cause." Healthcare is important, but, responsible government is how that is best addressed.

The death of Brian Thompson has spawned a reaction by Americans to the failures of health insurance companies to actually provide the care patients need. I can't believe we are back here, again.

Republicans hacked away at the Affordable Care Act since it was passed under President Obama.

Luigi Mangione is not crazy. He exhibits a "rational anger state." 

December 9, 2024
By Stephanie Kelly and Julie Steenhuysen

..."It does seem (click here) that he has some ill will toward corporate America," New York Police Department Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said of the suspect.

The attack called fresh attention to deepening frustrations over health coverage.

Recent data show that patients are now even more likely to have their claims denied, pay more for premiums and medical visits, and face unexpected costs for care they thought was covered by their health plan. Rising costs are attributed in part to consolidation of doctors' practices, hospitals and insurers....

It isn't as though the denial by corporate health care has gone unnoticed. The US Senate Permanent Subcommittee had concluded an investigation into this very issue as it relates to Medicare Advantage favored by recipients. This is the kind of work the government is supposed to do to prevent anger and strong reactions like that of Luigi Mangione (click here).

December 6, 2024
By Bruce Gil

...At the same time (of the murder of Brian Thompson) (click here), posts on social media have been claiming that UnitedHealthcare’s claim-denial rate is the highest in the industry; however, since insurers try to keep these numbers hidden, the true extent of its denials remains uncertain, especially when it comes to private plans.

Still, some recent reports show that denials for some patients have been on the rise.

In October, a report from the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations showed that the nation’s insurers have been using AI-powered tools to deny some claims from Medicare Advantage plan subscribers.

The report found that UnitedHealthcare’s denial rate for post-acute care — health care needed to transition people out of hospitals and back into their homes — for people with Medicare Advantage plans rose to 22.7% in 2022, from 10.9% in 2020....

These experiments by Russia obviously will have global implications.

If Russia can master the art of blocking internet connections it can carry that out in more places than simply Russia for the sake of protecting Putin's propaganda. Russia will attempt such strategies against it's own people it will carry out these strategies with other countries with implications to the military.

December 10, 2024

By Kate Irwin

Roskomnadzor (click here) Launches New Anti-piracy Register

Russia has reportedly cut some regions of the country off (click here) from the rest of the world's internet for a day, effectively siloing them, according to reports from European and Russian news outlets reshared by the US nonprofit Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and Western news outlets.

Russia's communications authority, Roskomnadzor, blocked residents in Dagestan, Chechnya, and Ingushetia, which have majority-Muslim populations, ISW says. The three regions are in southwest Russia near its borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan. People in those areas couldn't access Google, YouTube, Telegram, WhatsApp, or other foreign websites or apps—even if they used VPNs, according to a local Russian news site.

Russian digital rights NGO Roskomsvoboda told TechRadar that most VPNs didn't work during the shutdown, but some apparently did. It's unclear which ones or how many actually worked, though. Russia has been increasingly blocking VPNs more broadly, and Apple has helped the country's censorship efforts by taking down VPN apps on its Russian App Store. At least 197 VPNs are currently blocked in Russia, according to Russian news agency Interfax....

The reason for Trump’s nepotism is not noble or necessary.

(Click here)

The reason Trump is assigning all kinds of jobs (and supposedly responsibility) to family and friends is so his wealth can grow while the USA Treasury shrinks and Americans stay frustrated with the cost of living.

This is the incredible expense to the country of Trump’s nepotism. All these family and friends appointments is not about expertise, it is about draining the USA Treasury to benefit Trump’s social life and connections.

IT IS ALL CORRUPT.

All of it is corrupt spending the American people should never be burdened with. And DOGE is going to do what? To whom? I sincerely don’t expect the findings of DOGE to even come close to the real corruption and criminality within the Trump administration. Realizing who is exempt from DOGE will be more interesting than any of their findings.

I am certain the magnanimous Zinke will be sure to protect the funds and even expand on them to the National Park Service so the construction of Trump hotels and casinos goes well. Lord knows the exploitation of USA Forest lands by Junior won’t be avoided. 

AND

The attacks against legitimate and trustworthy infrastructure begins (Click here).

The ONLY was to deal with the many, many falsehoods by the Trumpers is to file defamation lawsuits. It is the one way to lay out the facts to the public.

It is a criminal administration.

Gangland. 

Michael Cohen stated once Trump is in the White House he won’t leave. I always believed that was a strange statement, but, it makes complete sense now when realizing he is nothing more than a criminal. The White House is where he is safe from prison in plain sight. 

I find Chuck Grassley’s pandering to Trump disturbing. Christopher Wray rather leave than fight a hostile administration. Trump and his minions like Grassley actually believe their own lies.

It is one thing to lie to achieve a political win, it quite another thing to continue the lie as if the truth. We have an inferior government in DC for the next four years. That is troubling both from its reality and the fact that a majority Republican legislature is cowering to it.

It is also concerning that every cabinet nominee is connected to FOX News, either as a contributor working for the network and/or guest appearances. Everyone of them. That raised questions of competency as well. Many paid to have their names nominated and that raises questions as to how kick backs are making it to Trump’s personal accounts.

These people are ACTORS ON A STAGE with personas that don’t reveal who they truly are. They are all practiced performers.

Like I said, he is a figurehead that will allow others to carry out corruption at will while he sits undisturbed and out of reach of the law watching FOX News and eating hamburgers. There is every reason to believe all this cabinet officers are as out of touch as him and only handmaidens to their wealthy cronies.

“LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!” The plutocrats own the government now!

(Click here)